City staff outlined the potential impact of Senate Bill 1134, titled “Official Actions of Local Governments,” in a agenda item prepared for the May 13th city commission meeting. The law, signed April 22, 2026, takes effect Jan. 1, 2027.

The measure broadly prohibits cities and counties from funding, promoting or taking official action related to diversity, equity and inclusion, commonly referred to as DEI. The statute defines DEI efforts as programs or activities tied to race, color, sex, ethnicity, gender identity or sexual orientation, including initiatives intended to influence hiring composition, provide preferential treatment or conduct targeted training and programming.

City staff warned that the law could affect multiple areas of municipal operations. Among the areas identified for further review are human resources policies and employee training programs, city-sponsored events and celebrations, minority and women-owned business enterprise initiatives, community grant programs and ordinances containing DEI-specific language.

The proposed staff recommendation asks commissioners to direct a comprehensive review of all city ordinances, policies, programs, sponsorships, grants and contracts that could be impacted by the legislation.

The law also prohibits local governments from funding or staffing DEI offices or employing DEI officers. In addition, municipal contracts and grants will now require recipients to certify they will not use city funds for DEI-related instruction or materials for employees or agents.

Staff noted that the legislation creates a resident enforcement mechanism allowing citizens to sue municipalities or officials for alleged violations. Potential remedies include injunctions, damages and legal costs. The law further states that local officials who knowingly violate the statute may be deemed guilty of misfeasance or malfeasance in office, which under Florida law could expose them to suspension by the governor.

City officials said several exceptions remain in place, including actions necessary to comply with federal and state anti-discrimination laws and recognition of official holidays and commemorative observances.

During legislative debate, bill sponsor Clay Yarborough said public events open to all residents generally would not violate the law, while programs limited to specific groups could face scrutiny.

City staff said additional legal guidance from the Florida League of Cities is expected later this summer as municipalities across the state prepare for implementation.

Chiles High School opened its FHSAA 3A regional semifinal with an early spark, taking a 7-0 lead on a double-pass touchdown to Kaitlyn Fagan with 6:30 left in the first quarter, followed by a successful one-point conversion run by Kendall Sadberry. The defense immediately backed it up with a critical fourth-down stop late in the opening quarter to keep Niceville off the board heading into the second.

Momentum continued in the second quarter when Charlotte Reynolds intercepted a pass for Chiles, setting up another quick score as Sadberry punched in a rushing touchdown to make it 14-0. Niceville responded later in the quarter with a passing touchdown to cut the lead to 14-7, but Chiles regained control right after halftime when Sadberry added another rushing score to push the lead to 21-7. Defensively, Sadberry also came up big with an interception in her own end zone to prevent a Niceville scoring chance, and Chiles sealed the game despite a late fourth-quarter interception, holding on for the 21-7 win and a trip to the state championship.

Stats

Sadberry led the way with 124 passing yards and added two rushing touchdowns, finishing as the central dual-threat option for Chiles. The passing game was spread across multiple targets, with senior Kaitlyn Fagan providing the biggest impact through the air, recording 62 receiving yards and a touchdown. Sophomore Ellis Smeltzer also contributed a passing touchdown, while the offense finished with 194 passing yards and 51 rushing yards, consistently moving the ball and capitalizing in key scoring situations.

Defensively, Chiles controlled the game with pressure and playmaking, holding Niceville to just seven points while forcing two interceptions. Sadberry added a pick on top of her offensive production, and senior Charlotte Reynolds returned an interception for 25 yards to swing momentum. The defense totaled 24 flag pulls and limited explosive plays throughout the game, with multiple players contributing pass breakups and steady containment.

With this win the Timberwolves will face off against the top seeded Ponte Vedra (16-0) in the regional finals looking to give the Sharks their first loss of the season. That game will be held in Ponte Vedra on May 7th.

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is a national independent rating system focused on 22 evidence-based measures of hospital safety, including infection prevention, error reduction, medication safety, patient experience and staffing. TMH’s grade reflects a successful standard the organization has maintained through a strategic focus on quality, safety and patient satisfaction.

“Earning a ‘B’ grade for the third consecutive rating period affirms that our approach to safety and quality is working,” said Ryan Smith, Chief Operating Officer and President of Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. “This recognition aligns with what we are seeing across our organization – stronger processes, greater accountability and a continued focus on doing what’s right for our patients every single day. I couldn’t be more proud of our colleagues and the progress we’re making together.”

“We’ve built a foundation around standardization and continuous improvement, and this grade reflects the consistency and discipline our teams bring to patient safety every day,” said Jana Iezzi-Tumblin, Vice President and Chief Improvement & Analytics Officer for TMH.

Florida State University awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters to alumna and Spanx founder Sara Blakely during spring commencement Friday, recognizing a career built on instinct, persistence and a willingness to do things differently. 

When Blakely took the stage, she didn’t dwell on success. She talked about failure, self-doubt and the decision that shaped everything that came next. 

“The most critical thing that I did — the thing that everyone here can do — is I made one big investment early on,” she told the graduates. “I invested in me.” 

Blakely returned to campus 33 years after graduating from Florida State, where she said her dreams began, even if her path after college didn’t go as planned. 

She had hoped to become a lawyer. She failed the LSAT twice. She went to a job fair and was rejected by 20 companies. She hoped to be Goofy at Disney World and didn’t meet the height requirement. 

Eventually, she found herself selling fax machines door to door for seven years. 

“It was brutal,” she said, recalling days of rejection while her peers moved into careers as lawyers, doctors and corporate executives. 

At one point, she pulled her car to the side of the road and said out loud: “I’m in the wrong movie.” 

Two years later, she started a company called Spanx. 

What began as a simple fix — cutting the feet off a pair of pantyhose to improve the way clothing fit — grew into a global brand that reshaped the shapewear industry. Blakely built the company without outside investors, eventually selling a majority stake in 2021 after turning it into a billion-dollar business. 

She has continued working on another venture called Sneex, a footwear company she launched to combine the comfort of a sneaker with the look and style of a heel. 

FSU President Richard McCullough conferred Blakely’s degree during Friday evening’s ceremony at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, the first honorary degree awarded during his presidency. 

In introducing her, he described Blakely as someone defined by curiosity and perseverance and a cultural force whose success began with a simple belief: There must be a better way. 

After the hooding, McCullough turned back to the audience and said, “It is now my honor to introduce, for the first time, Dr. Sara Blakely.” 

Blakely told graduates that the curiosity and persistence behind her success is available to anyone willing to do the work on themselves. 

“You can be a spectator in your life or a participant,” she said. “You can be a passenger of your thoughts or the driver of your thoughts. I chose to be the driver.” 

That idea, she said, traces back to her teenage years, when her father gave her cassette tapes by author Wayne Dyer that focused on mindset, visualization and not fearing failure. She listened to them so often she memorized them, even if it made her unpopular on car rides with friends. 

Years later, after building Spanx and landing on the cover of Forbes for being the youngest female self-made billionaire, those same friends sent her a message: “Should have listened.” 

Blakely’s speech mixed humor with hard-earned lessons. She told stories about scrambling to fulfill her first major order without the right manufacturing pieces, navigating embarrassing moments on international television and writing her own patent because she couldn’t afford an attorney. 

“I had no experience, but I had belief,” she said. 

She also warned graduates about the challenge of distraction in a fast-moving world and urged them to protect time to think, reflect and grow. 

“You can distract yourself or you can discover yourself,” she said. 

At one point, Blakely held up a worn red backpack, the same one she carried as a student at Florida State and later to early business meetings. Today, it serves as a symbol for her Red Backpack Foundation, which supports women and girls around the world. 

“It’s a reminder that everything you need is already right there on your back,” she said. 

Blakely’s recognition marks the 133rd honorary degree conferred by the university.

The Board voted unanimously Tuesday night to move forward with a possible one-point millage rate increase. Board members directed Superintendent Rocky Hanna to prepare a draft resolution that would be ready for discussion on May 11th. A final vote on placing the language on the ballot could take place at the May 11th meeting.

The proposed one-point millage rate increase could generate $24 million for the district.

Officials noted that the property tax plan will include a public workshop where constituents can weigh in.

Leon Classroom Teachers Association President Scott Mazur supports the measure.

“This is an opportunity for us to put in our own hands as a community distributive leadership. Let the community decide. Do you want strong public schools? Do you want great educators in the classroom? Do you want to strengthen our community and the answer is ‘yes’, so we vote for it,” Mazur said.

Matlow’s full statement is provided below:

“For the last six years I’ve raised warnings of the mismanagement and toxic culture created by Reese Goad after his appointment by a lame duck city commission in the height of the Maddox Corruption era.

While the timing of his resignation immediately following the sale of the hospital and golf course for pennies on the dollar is suspicious, it is a great day for the City of Tallahassee and an opportunity for us to move on to a brighter future.

In the interim we are in very capable hands with DCM Karen Jumonville who will bring stability during a national search for the next City Manager.

In November, a new City Commission will be sworn-in and should have the opportunity to select the new administrator from a broad pool of qualified candidates from across the country that can turn the page on division and help unify our city.”

The Suwannee River Water Management District issued a notice of non-compliance in April after inspections found the facility violated conditions of its Environmental Resource Permit. Inspectors reported several issues, including unpermitted impervious surfaces, standing water in a stormwater pond, and erosion linked to prolonged water discharge from the site. Tests also indicated excessive pollutants leaving the property during a pumping event.

The violations follow weeks of complaints from nearby residents who reported declining water quality and persistent odors they believed were connected to runoff from the cannabis growing operation. State lawmakers, including Allison Tant, have called for additional water testing and closer oversight of the facility to ensure public safety.

Under the notice, the company is required to update its operations and maintenance plan and ensure that pumped water is properly contained to prevent further environmental impacts. Regulators have not announced fines but indicated that corrective action is mandatory to maintain compliance with state environmental standards.

The situation remains under review as state agencies continue monitoring conditions at the site and evaluating potential long-term environmental risks.

Officers originally responded to the business at approximately 1:30 a.m. on April 5 in reference to a shooting. Upon arrival, officers located an adult male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Life-saving measures were immediately initiated, and the victim was transported to a local hospital, where he sadly succumbed to his injuries.

Through their investigation, detectives with TPD’s Violent Crimes Unit determined that a fight broke out inside the business. During the incident, Williams produced a firearm and shot the victim multiple times before fleeing the scene.

Witness statements and evidence collected at the scene, led detectives to identify Williams as the suspect and locate the firearm used in the shooting.

On April 24, Williams was taken into custody and charged with second-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

“With the opening of our first PowerTLH EV fast-charging station, we can see significant progress toward a cleaner, more connected Tallahassee. As we celebrate Earth Day, we’re proud to highlight how our strategic investment in innovative, sustainable services is vital to shaping a brighter future for our community,” Mayor John Dailey said.

The press release states that the “Modern and inviting, the City of Tallahassee’s first-of-its-kind electric vehicle charging station blends innovation with convenience. Located at 233-1 W. Van Buren Street, adjacent to Anita Favors Plaza, the station offers more than just a place to charge. Drivers can enjoy a stroll along the scenic Capital Cascades Trail, explore the History and Culture Trail along FAMU Way or unwind at Lake Anita and Cascades Park. A variety of local businesses are also just a short walk away, making it easy to experience the area while your EV powers up.”

“This is what tomorrow’s gas station looks like, built today. The City of Tallahassee continues to lead in innovation by advancing forward-thinking solutions that drive meaningful progress and set a lasting standard for sustainable infrastructure,” City Manager Reese Goad said.

Additional PowerTLH EV fast-charging stations are being constructed, including at the corner of Orange Avenue and Meridian Street and on West Tharpe Street near North Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. To celebrate the first station opening, the community is invited to a ribbon cutting event on Wednesday, April 22, at 10 a.m. at the project site, 233-1 W. Van Buren Street.

In the first round of the tournament, top-seeded Florida High faced off against fourth-seeded Maclay in what would be their third meeting of the season. The Seminoles last played Maclay during the last match of the regular season, where they swept the Marauders 5-0 without losing a set. Florida High repeated this result in the district tournament, winning all ten sets and advancing to the finals, where they matched up against CCS.

In the first round of the tournament, the second-seeded CCS matched up against third-seeded Franklin County in a tight matchup that came down to the wire. CCS ultimately beat Franklin County with a dual score of 3-2 to advance to the final match against Florida High.

This was the third matchup between Florida High and CCS this season as the Seminoles beat the Chargers 5-0 twice in the regular season. This match started off in a similar fashion as Florida High’s Sophie Ashworth and Tess Kyvik beat Lyla Barton and Aiyla Casperson at the fifth position in straight sets to put the first dual point on the board for the Seminoles.

The next two dual points belonged to the Seminoles as well, as Anna Schoen and Mackenzie Taber beat CCS’s Lyndsey Freeland and Sarah-Kate Liddell in straight sets at the fourth position, while Florida High’s Kennedy Mayernick and Davie Stringer beat Korben Steinmetz and Sydnie Burks in straight sets to win their third dual point to clinch the dual.

Although Florida High had already won the dual, the Seminoles continued to play the remaining matchups. At the second position, Addison Mayernick and Olivia Woods beating Violet McMillan and Kallie Mathison in straight sets claiming their fourth dual point. At the first position, CCS’s Avea Casperson and Sarah Bradley put up a fight against Florida High’s Linnea Whittington and Hunter Cook while being the first pair from CCS to force a third set against the Seminoles. CCS lost the first set but won the second with a score of 21-17 to force Florida High to their first third set match of the tournament. Although CCS fought hard, Whittington and Cook won the third set 15-9, claiming the final point of the dual, winning 5-0.

“Dave Lang gave Leon County more than 42 years of exemplary public service,” said Leon County Commission Chairman Christian Caban. “He began his career here in 1959 as Chief Deputy Clerk and was elected Clerk of the Circuit and County Courts in 1992, guiding that office through the historic 2000 Presidential Election and leading it to become the first in the nation to place court records online. Though I did not have the privilege of serving alongside Dave, his legacy lives throughout this community. It is present in the courthouse, in the civic organizations he helped lead and in the local history he preserved for future generations. On behalf of the Board of County Commissioners, our hearts are with the Lang family.”

Beyond his decades at the Clerk’s office, Lang’s life reflected a broader commitment to service and community. A U.S. Army veteran who retired as a lieutenant colonel, he was awarded the Army Humanitarian Service Medal for his participation in the 1980 Cuban Boat Lift Operation. A sixth-generation Floridian and popular local historian, Lang dedicated much of his retirement to researching and preserving the history of Tallahassee and Leon County, and he served with civic organizations including the Tallahassee Historical Society, the John G. Riley Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, the Tallahassee Lions Club and Springtime Tallahassee.

“Dave was a consummate professional and a dedicated public servant, a true gentleman in every sense,” said Leon County Administrator Vincent S. Long. “On behalf of the men and women of Leon County Government, he will be missed and our thoughts go out to the Lang family during this difficult time.”

Lang was also an active member of the Tallahassee Quarterback Club.

“We mourn the passing of Dave Lang, a cherished and longtime member of the Tallahassee Quarterback Club. Dave was, in every sense, one of the finest gentlemen our community has known—kind, genuine, and always carrying a warm smile that made others feel welcome. For many years, he faithfully offered the invocation at our dinner gatherings, setting the tone with grace and sincerity. His steady presence and quiet character left a lasting impression on all who had the privilege to know him,” said Hugh Tomlinson, Club President.

Lang was recently honored for his 42 years of exemplary service to Tallahassee and Leon County with a street in his name. 

In accordance with policy, the County flag will be lowered to half-mast for five days, or through the day of interment, in honor of Mr. Lang’s service.

Leon County Commissioner Brian Welch was the only no vote. Following the meeting, Welch posted written comments about the issue and a link to a video of his comments during the meeting on his social media platforms.

Welch’s written comments are provided below:

“I will always support polices that uplift ALL people in our community, especially in areas of need, neglect or disinvestment. I supported our recent County resolution apologizing for our history of slavery. But this is not a resolution, this is about policy. I cannot in good conscience, support an effort that builds a framework to deliberately and specifically direct funding to “individuals or communities” whose “ancestors” were harmed by historical injustices. The amendment as written is clearly about reparations, taking from today’s taxpayers and redistributing that revenue deliberately and specifically to people whom they didn’t harm. That effort is a non-starter for me and is bad public policy in my opinion. Especially if that policy jeopardizes all of the good work and investment we are presently making to uplift and improve our entire community. We are making great strides in Leon County and in the 32304 zip code specifically. This effort would not heal old wounds, it would only serve to create new ones.”

His comments during the meeting are provided below: